Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sometimes I wonder if we truly listen when friends and family are talking. At times, my mind isalready on how I am going to respond or thinking about what I need to do next. I think listening is probably one of the greatest “lost arts” of our society. Think about it…Would the world be healed, if we just learned to listen better?

Here are 7 easy tips to help you listen better:

1.Maintain eye contact.

2.Focus on what the speaker is saying, not on how you will respond.

3.Refrain from interrupting.

4.Reserve judgment until the speaker is finished.

5.Be sure you clearly understand what the speaker conveyed.

6.Take a breath before you comment.

7.Think about the main idea.

Here are 9 great quotes that reflect the importance of listening:

“The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.”Woodrow Wilson

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” Ralph Nichols

“One advantage of talking to yourself is that you know at least somebody’s listening.” Franklin P. Jones

“One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who take the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world.” Dr. E. H. Mayo

“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” M. Scott Peck

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

“Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.” Dr. Joyce Brothers

“No man ever listened himself out of a job.” Calvin Coolidge

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” Ernest Hemingway

Do you have a favorite quote that represents the importance of listening? Add it to our comments section.